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Sydney Blythe Award for Educational Architecture 2023

We are honoured to be awarded the Sydney Blythe Award for Educational Architecture at the 2023 Tasmanian Architecture Awards for Holy Rosary Catholic School. Jury citation: “Holy Rosary is a delightful calibration of a hard-working primary school environment. An intuitive masterplan process ran concurrently with overlapping design and construction demands. Every architectural decision seeks to benefit the teacher, the students, the school community, and the site. The variety of internal to external connections act to strengthen teaching and learning possibilities. The persistent agility of the new works continually generates the possibility of engagement with the broader realm of the school and the community. The experience of the neighbourhood of Claremont is backgrounded by a feeling of deep connection and celebration… read more.

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James Blackburn Triennial Prize

Our Ryde Street House has won the James Blackburn Triennial Prize at the 2023 Tasmanian Architecture Awards.  We’re thrilled that this modest and economical project has been awarded. Jury citation: “The Triennial Prize is a peculiar Tasmanian tradition that came about because our small island state lacked a certain volume of architectural projects each year to warrant an annual prize. Recently, the Tasmanian Chapter chose to retain the prize, and in honour of its humble origin, we award this year’s Triennial Residential Award to Bence Mulcahy for their Ryde Street House. The project improves a house for a family and demonstrates that good design is not flashy but, rather, sensitive and sensible. Details and joinery provide moments of pleasure within… read more.

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Flinders Island Community Vet

Flinders Island Community Vet

Bence Mulcahy was selected to design a state-of-the-art veterinary facility on Flinders Island for the local council. 

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Living Room open to garden and Hampden Road

National Award

Fusilier Cottage has picked up a 2022 National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)! We are so proud that this little project is nationally regarded. 

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Wild Huts

Wild Huts are for a simplified way of living. A small footprint with a lofty interior, these tiny homes are both intimate and spacious.

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Evening timber screens open

Fusilier Cottage

This project involves repairing and extending Fusiliers Cottage, a charming1840s bluestone and sandstone cottage in Battery Point, so the new owners can combine business and family under one roof.

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Bence Mulcahy Studio

What we think

Our sense of belonging to Tasmania deeply influences our practice and philosophy. We examine a project’s possibilities and push the boundaries. We create unique and distinctive buildings that make a difference.

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Proposed new classrooms for grade 5 + 6

Cambridge Primary School, Major Redevelopment

The design for the Cambridge Primary School Major Redevelopment responds to the school’s positive culture where all students have a sense of belonging and agency, and where physical activity, outdoor play and being ‘in the bush’ is highly valued. The project includes a new building, with four GLAs, an extension to the existing kindergarten with an additional learning space, relocation of the library, expansion of the existing canteen, new outdoor covered areas and associated landscaping. The new built elements improve the experience of the landscape, and connect students directly to the surrounding bush and rivulet. New and refurbished classrooms open to wide verandas for outdoor undercover learning, and playful elements such as the roof “pops” capture light and sky views… read more.

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Central triple height gathering space opening the internal spaces to northern light and providing an interconnected social space in the heart of the redevelopment

The Friends’ School WN Oats Centre Redevelopment

Once the new gym “The Revel Centre” was completed the existing WN Oats centre was redeveloped as a dedicated teaching building. Located at the centre of the site, this new facility becomes a hub for the campus’ academic life, providing contemporary learning spaces, staff offices, learning support spaces and student ammenities right in the heart of the campus. This project strategically enhances accessibility on the campus by installing a new lift connected to the main carpark level and pedestrian bridge links to adjoining buildings on the upper level also therefore creating broader campus connections. Images by CUUB Studio

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Holy Rosary Catholic School, Prep

As the final stage (No.6) of the Holy Rosary Catholic School masterplan the new prep building enhances the school by providing much needed amenity. Its location adjacent the existing kindergarten building creates an early years precinct and dedicated early learning play area. The scale, form and materiality of the new pays homage to the original school buildings. The finely detailed glazing system, the warm timber joinery and delicate columns provide a more contemporary playful language and the wide verandahs provide an exaggerated depth and generosity to the building edge. The “lazy gable” roof responds to the site conditions “flipping” up to form an entry and waiting space for parents and students. The scope includes 2 new GLAs, a shared flexi-space… read more.

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Macquarie Point Masterplan

Bence Mulcahy were engaged by Our Place, a group representing a number of Tasmanian community organisations, to undertake a masterplan for Hobart’s Macquarie Point. The masterplan brief included a strong focus on indigenous reconciliation and an emphasis on housing. The Macquarie Masterplan includes 1000 new homes in a number of configurations and tenure types. It proposes space for the relocation of a number of significant public institutions as anchor tenants, including the Australian Antarctic Program Headquarters and the State Library of Tasmania.  The centrepiece of the masterplan is a nationally significant Truth and Reconciliation Park and Indigenous Cultural Centre. An emphasis on natural features enhance and make connections to the site’s place in the wider landscape, while research and mapping… read more.

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The Friends’ School Revell Sports Centre

The Revell Centre, a state-of-the-art sports facility for the Friends’ School, is the first project resulting from our masterplan for the school (link to masterplan page). The sports centre, which also includes teaching spaces, staff offices and other amenities, improves site accessibility by connecting with existing buildings at multiple levels using lifts and bridge walkways. Developing a new sports facility also allows the school to convert the former WN Oats gym, located at the heart of the school’s campus, into flexible, contemporary teaching spaces (link to Oats page). Our work for Friends’ is guided by the school’s distinctive ethos and desire to create outstanding facilities that benefit the whole school community. The Revell Sports Centre and redevelopment of the WN Oats Centre… read more.

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Wentworth Street Alteration and Addition 

The Wentworth Street house is brick with a terracotta tiled gable roof, built in the 1940s.  Its asymmetrical form, informal details and colour-washed brickwork point to inter-war Mediterranean style architecture. The clients’ brief was to open up the home’s dark internal spaces and allow them to make the most of the beautiful, established gardens. Our timber and brick addition takes its cues from the home’s existing lean-to.  A new sunroom and deck expands the existing north-facing living room, while generous, landscaped steps connect the house to the new outdoor living space and winding garden paths.  A slot window and skylight delineates old from new and lights the original building. Photos Adam Gibson

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Contemporary learning spaces

Holy Rosary Learning Spaces and Canteen

Holy Rosary Catholic School, established in 1961, values its strong connections with the local community and vibrant school culture.  An assessment of the school identified the need for larger, contemporary learning spaces, improved student amenities and flexible spaces for social and community programs.   Our additions stay true to the school’s existing low-level, red-brick buildings with domestic-scale awnings and decks, and their location reinforces the importance of the school’s central courtyard.  The new transparent shared spaces, amenities pods and pop-up sun collectors are a playful addition to the campus. Photos Adam Gibson

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Physical model of Fahan School Campus by Bence Mulcahy

Fahan Masterplan

Bence Mulcahy is undertaking a masterplan for Fahan School to guide their building program.

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House at night screen open

Ryde Street House

Ryde Street House allows a family to continue to live and grow in the community they love.

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External Elevation Mount Stuart Greenhouse

The Greenhouse

The clients’ brief was for their home to be ‘engulfed by the garden’. Our response was to design a two-storey greenhouse style glass extension, with a private suite contained in a floating box.

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Mount Stuart Greenhouse

Mount Stuart Greenhouse shortlisted for national award

Bence Mulcahy is thrilled the Mount Stuart Greenhouse has been shortlisted for two Australian Institute of Architects 2019 National Architecture Awards. We are excited to be on a shortlist that includes so many of our favourite architects.  Click here for more information.

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Holy Rosary Catholic School

Holy Rosary Catholic School

New contemporary teaching spaces, upgraded student ammenities, and flexible spaces for social and community programs at Holy Rosary Catholic School.

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EmAGN Logo

EmAGN Tour

Bek discusses how the theme ‘Process, Perseverance, Procrastination’ relates to her practice of architecture for the national Emerging Architect Tour.

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Family look at model display

Open House Hobart

The Bence Mulcahy office was buzzing last weekend as more than 80 people dropped in as part of Open House Hobart.

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Lambert Avenue Model with brick wall behind

Lambert Avenue House

A Californian bungalow is returned to its former glory and extended to suit the lives of the busy young family who have made it their home.

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Cosgrove Image

Cosgrove High School ‘A Block’ 

This project is designed to foster school spirit at Cosgrove High School by bringing together students and staff scattered across the large site into one building. At the heart of the project is the creation of a central hub for learning and socialising.

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Clemes Science Lab

The Friends’ School Clemes Science Labs

The Clemes Science Labs offer students state-of-the-art science facilities in an engaging and safe learning environment. The project involved refurbishing the existing laboratories and designing an extension for the lab technicians’ preparation area.

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Bek Verrier Image

Bek Verrier joins Bence Mulcahy

Bence Mulcahy is delighted to announce that Bek Verrier has joined the team.  Named Tasmania’s Emerging Architect in 2016, Bek has a track-record working on award-winning projects and an irresistible enthusiasm for great design.

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The Sensory 1

The Sensory, Richmond Tasmania

The Sensory’s design, featuring bold graphics and Tasmanian timbers, transports people to Tasmania’s wild places.

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Friends' School Main Entrance

The Friends’ School Masterplan

This masterplan will give The Friends’ School a framework for new and improved facilities that reflect the school’s ethos and education philosophies.

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North Hobart house model

North Hobart house, Tasmania

This house realises the clients’ long-conceived ideas for a very particular design and layout. It is located in a small ‘no through street’ in North Hobart characterised by an eclectic mix of light industrial buildings and domestic residences.

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Happy Apple Image 2

Happy Apple Grocer, Ascot Vale Melbourne

An Ascot Vale institution, the Happy Apple Grocer has been serving locals with fresh fruit and vegetables for decades. After taking over the neighbouring site, the Grocer’s owners want to expand to meet new commercial opportunities without compromising the Happy Apple’s friendly neighbourhood appeal.

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Opossum Bay dining

Opossum Bay house

Located in the quaint shack town of Opossum Bay, this project involved transforming an ordinary 1970s brick veneer house into a beautiful holiday home.

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Ryde Street House External

Ryde Street House Stage 1

Located in the inner city, this modest project is the first stage required to transform a 1900s workers’ cottage into a modern family residence.

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Architecture Model

What we do

We believe great design shapes our engagement with one another and the world around us, and that architecture should be driven by a spirit of generosity. We are interested in global ideas applied to the specific context.

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Shamus Mulcahy and Sophie Bence

Who we are

Sophie Bence and Shamus Mulcahy formed Bence Mulcahy in 2014. Our partnership is built on a love of great design and a desire to work with our clients on projects to be proud of.

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